Shelf bracket having cam lock



Aug. 25, 1959 O. 'N. GREDELL SHELF BRACKET HAVING CAM LOCK Filed April1, 1957 INVENTOR. 0270 M Gredzfl Arr'omv United States Patent Offic2,901,205 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 Steel Works, :Inc., North Kansas City,Mo., a corporation of Texas Application April 1, 1957, Serial No.649,919

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-245) This invention relates to shelving structure,and particularly, to a bracket and support assembly having novel meansfor releasably attaching the bracket to .the support at any desiredpoint throughout the length of the sup port.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provideshelving structure of the aforementioned nature adapted to permitassembly and adjustment substantially without the use of any toolswhatsoever.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide means ofattachment for the bracket to the support that positively and firmlyhold the bracket against displacement by virtue of a biting actionbetween a 'eutting edge of a latch or lock carried by the bracket andacting on the support.

A further object of the present invention is to provide shelvingstructure that includes a cam latch which progressively increases aninterlocking fit between hooks formed on the support and the bracket,together with a progressively increased cut into thehook of the supportas the latch is swung to one end of its path of travel.

A still further object :of the present invention is to provide shelvingstructure having a bracket which may be easily and quickly attachedton-the :support or standard hymovement of the bracket alonga-substantially; straight horizontal line, thereby avoidinginterferencewithgpreviously attached brackets, shelving ,ortotherobstructions such as side walls, columns and the like.

Another important aim of the instant invention is the provision ofshelving structure wherein a pair of brackets may be attached adjacentto one another without interference, each of which may additionally beshifted independently of the other.

Another aim of the instant invention is to utilize a cam lever typebracket wherein the holding power to prevent slippage does not dependupon the load carried by the shelf to clamp the same more firmly to itsupright support.

Other objects include important details of construction to be made clearor become apparent as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shelf bracket having a cam lock made pursuantto the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the shelving structureshown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and in section for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the opposite side of the shelvingstructure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on lineIV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the cam latchreleased; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on lineVI--VI of Fig. 4.

The essential components of the shelving structure embodying theimprovements of the instant invention include an upright standard .orsupport 10 and a shelfreceiving bracket 12, it being understood ofcourse, that any number of vertically aligned brackets 12 may beattached to the standard 10 and that a plurality of horizontally alignedsupports 10 each equipped with a number of brackets, may be employed toreceive a plurality .of horizontal shelves.

To this end, bracket 12 includes a vertical web 14 having a laterallyextending flange .or ledge 16 to which the shelf may be attached in anysuitable manner such as through use of fasteners passing throughopenings (not shown) in the flange 16. Additional reinforcement for theweb 14 is provided :by a lateral flange 18 at the lowermost edgethereof.

The standard 10 is especially formed for receiving the bracket 12 andmay be made from channel stock, its transverse U-shaped configurationpresenting a bight 20 and a pair of legs 22, each of which in turn isprovided with a rearwardly-facing hook .24 extending verticallythroughout the longitudinal length .of the standard 10. By virtue ofsuch construction therefore, each of the hooks 24 may receive aplurality of spaced, superimposed brackets '12, 'but it is of course,understood that the invention is not limited to a standard constructionwhere- 'inmore than one of such hooks 24 is employed. Furthermore, thelegs 22 and their hooks 24 may be interconnected in other manners thanby an integral bight or back portion 20 forming a part of the standard10.

The reaimostend of the bracket '12 and particularly, the web "14thereof, is also provided with a hook 26 extending throughout .thelength of the rearmost end of the web '14 and substantially in thenature of the hooks 24. The -hook '26 faces forwardly and complementallyfits the books 24 in interlocking relationship for vertical slidingmovement therealong .as is evident from Figs. 4 and :5 of the drawing.It is to be noted that the flanges 16 and 18 terminate short of the hook26 'to accommodate the hook 2'4.

Bracket 12 is provided with means for releasably attaching the same tothe standard 10 and to, therefore, hold the bracket .12:against'vertical sliding movement in any selected position throughoutthe length of hook 24. Such holding means is in the nature of a latch 28taking the form of a cam lever swingably secured to the bracket 12 formovement to the positions illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Latch 28 includes a pair of superimposed plates 30 and 32 interconnectedin any suitable manner such as by spot-welding and journaled on a pivotpin 34 disposed vertically along one face of the web 14. Pin 34 iscarried by flange 18 and by ear 36 struck from the web 14 presenting aclearance opening 38 in the latter for the latch 28.

Arcuate cam means in the form of cutting edges eccentric to the pin 34,are presented at one end of the latch means 28 adjacent the hook 24 byspreading the plates 30 and 32 apart. Such outwardly flared, arcuateends of the plates 30 and 32, present the aforementioned arcuate cuttingedges 40 and 42 which bite into and form serrations in the hook 24 whenthe latch lever 28 is swung to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Byvirtue of the eccentricity of the edges 40 and 42 to the vertical axisof swinging movement of the latch lever 28 about the pin 34, hooks 24and 26 are clamped together with progressively increased force, and thesaid serrations become progressively deeper in the hook 24 as the latch28 is swung toward the web 14 to the position shown in Fig. 4.

It is now apparent that once the standard 10 is erected, each of thebrackets 12 may be easily and quickly slipped into place by movementhorizontally to a position where hook 26 may be interlocked with hook24. No tools of any nature are required to force the lever 28 to theposition shown in Fig. 4 and in order to release the latch 28 forremoval of the bracket 12 or readjustment of the same vertically alongthe standard 10, it is but necessayr at most to employ a screw driver orother prying instrument inserted between latch 28 and web 14, toinitiate the swinging movement of latch 28 toward the position shown inFig. 5.

Other shelving, walls, columns and the like adjacent the tsandard 10,will not interfere with either the attachment and removal of the bracket12 or adjustment thereof. By the same token, the presence of a number ofbrackets attached to one of the hooks 24, will not in any way interferewith attachment of another series of brackets 12 to the other hook 24.

By virtue of the fact that the cam lever lock or latch means 28 isadapted to cut lateral serrations into the hook 24, there is presented afirm clamping action which precludes any appreciable deflection of thebracket 12 with respect to the standard when a load is placed thereon.

Manifestly, any number of single plate or double plate latching leversmay be provided on the web 14 throughout the vertical width of therearmost end thereof, and manifestly, means other than pivot pin 34 maybe provided for mounting the same to the bracket 12 for horizontalswinging movement. However, mounting of the latch means 28 adjacent therearmost end of the bracket 12 disposes the same in position forreceiving the load and preventing sagging in the bracket 12 at theoutermost free end of the latter as such load tends to pull the upperend of hook 26 into firm interlocking relationship with the hook 24.

By virtue of the outwardly flared, innermost end of the latch 23presenting the spaced, arcuate cutting edges 40 and 42, cutting into thehook 24 in opposite directions, it is not possible for the bracket 12 toshift vertically in either direction along the hook 24 when the lever 28is in the latched position shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the bracket 12cannot swing horizontally or tilt in any direction because of theinterlocking relationship of the hooks 24 and 26 and the way in whichsuch interlocking is maintained by the action of cam edges 40 and 42thereon.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Shelving structure comprising an upright support having a return bentportion forming a hook; a shelfreceiving bracket including a verticalweb extending laterally from the support and having a return bentportion forming a hook at the rearmost edge thereof interlocked with thehook of the support for vertical sliding therealong; and latch meansswingable horizontally on the web to and from a position engaging thehook of the support for holding the bracket in selected positions relative to the support.

2. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch meansis provided with cam means engageable with the book of the support forclamping the book of the bracket progressively tighter to the book ofthe support as the latch means is swung toward one end of its path oftravel.

3. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam means hasan arcuate cutting edge eccentric to the axis of swinging movement ofthe latch means and biting into the hook of the support when the latchmeans is swung to said one end of its path of travel.

4. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said web has aclearance opening for said latch means adjacent the hooks.

5. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam means hasa pair of spaced, arcuate cutting edges eccentric to the axis ofswinging movement of the latch means and biting into the hook of thesupport when the latch means is swung to said one end of its path oftravel.

6. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein siad latch meansincludes a pair of plates each having.

cam means thereon provided with a cutting edge.

7. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein cam means areflared laterally in opposite directions.

8. Shelving structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein said plates areinterconnected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS756,648 Kade Apr. 4, 1904 1,831,550 Vanderveld Nov. 10, 1931 2,605,551Ames Aug. 5, 1952 2,645,325 Petit July 14, 1953 2,674,431 Attwood Apr.6, 1954

